Backbiting or tale-bearing is to slander someone in their absence — to bite them behind their back. Originally, backbiting referred to an unsporting attack from the rear in the blood sport of bearbaiting.
Causes
Backbiting may occur as a form of release after a confrontation. By insulting the opposing person, the backbiter diminishes them and, by doing so, restores their own
self-esteem. A bond may also be established with the confidante if they are receptive to the hostile comment. Such
gossip is common in human society as people seek to divert
blame and establish their place in the dominance hierarchy. But the backbiting may be perceived as a form of delinquent behaviour due to an inferiority complex.
Religious views
In most major religions, backbiting is considered a
sin. Leaders of the Baháʼí Faith condemned it as the worst of sins as it destroyed the 'life of the soul' and provoked
divine wrath. In
Buddhism, backbiting goes against the ideal of
right speech.
Thomas Aquinas classified it as a
mortal sin,
given that, as with other mortal sins, the act attains its perfection, that is, the act is committed with full knowledge and full consent of the will.
considers
ghibah, or backbiting, to be a major sin and the Qur'an compares it to the abhorrent act of eating the flesh of one's dead brother. Additionally, it is not permissible for one to keep quiet and listen to backbiting. In
Judaism, backbiting is known as
Lashon hara (spreading a bad name) and is considered a severe sin.
In the 19th century, Charlotte Elizabeth wrote an account of backbiting for the moral education of children in places such as Sunday school.
Notable examples
In the Book of Numbers, the elder siblings of
Moses –
Miriam and
Aaron – talk against him together. God is angered and punishes Miriam with leprosy.
Gordon Brown notoriously spoke of Gillian Duffy as being a "sort of woman" after conversing with her pleasantly during his 2010 election campaign. This remark was made to his staff as he was driving away but was picked up by a microphone gaffe. This incident caused him great embarrassment and he returned to apologise, declaring that he was a "penitence ."
